Outdoors almanac: West shore rivers prime for bites

Nate Olin of Somerset reeled in this 31.68-pound chinook salmon while fishing with his grandfather, Dave Olin of Stillwater, Minn., Aug. 9 off Algoma. The elder Olin said it was the biggest "king" ever caught aboard his boat in three decades of fishing Lake Michigan. The pre-spawn fish hit a glow spoon.(Photo: Kevin Naze/Press-Gazette Media correspondent)Buy Photo

It may not always be your target fish species, but Green Bay's west shore tributaries are packing on the variety these days.

Anglers casting nightcrawlers, minnows, spinners and stickbaits can't be sure what their next strike will be. Bass, catfish, pike, sheepshead and walleye are among the more common species hooked.

On Green Bay itself, the lower bay — both shores — continues to produce good walleye catches for those trolling crawler harnesses or stickbaits. The first and last couple hours of daylight are often best, but midday can be decent if there's a good chop on the water.

The search for yellow perch is a daily routine at spots like Geanos, Oconto, Dyckesville, Sugar Creek and Chaudoir's Dock, with hit-and-miss action in 15 to 30 feet of water. Minnows are the preferred bait.

On Lake Michigan, water temperatures warmed in the past week, slowing salmon catches outside the dawn and dusk action for most. Some were able to keep getting bites by day by moving deeper — 150 to 350 feet of water — to find a higher thermocline.

Many anglers did extremely well fishing within two miles of shore by the light of the full moon last weekend. Several trophy chinooks in the 30-pound class were reported from Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay. One of them was weighed on a tournament scale at Algoma and went 31.68 pounds, the biggest of the season.

INLAND WATERS

Secrets of fresh-fish cooking in free book

A free download of the DNR's new "Healthy Dishes with Wisconsin Fishes" is available in a flip-book format for easier viewing at dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/flipbook/healthydishwisfish/index.html.

The book contains 25 recipes from anglers and chefs, as well as advice on proper care of your catch.

Candy Schrank, longtime coordinator of the fish consumption advisory and one of the forces behind the cookbook, said only a limited number have been printed and will be handed out primarily to groups. Readers can print the full book or any pages they are interested in.

■ The Lake Winnebago system continues to produce some of the best inland perch and walleye action in the state, but not everyone is hooking enough for lunch. Those most successful have often paid their dues.

Newcomers to the system should get a good lake map and look for reefs, then try to beat the crowds by fishing early or late in the day with lively live bait slip-bobbered or drifted near bottom.

HUNTING

Early teal season joins goose, dove

Even though there's five weeks of summer left on the calendar, opening day for three "fall" hunting seasons is just two weeks away.

New this year, a week-long early teal season. It joins early Canada goose and mourning dove with a Sept. 1 opening day.

Next up is the black bear hunt for those who drew tags. Those using bait can begin Sept. 3 statewide while those using trailing hounds start Sept. 10 in Zones A, B and D.

The bow and crossbow deer hunting seasons start Sept. 13, the same date as the ruffed grouse opener in Zone A, cottontail rabbits in the northern zone and fall wild turkey, gray and fox squirrel and crow statewide.

To help hunters understand new seasons and regulations, the DNR is hosting an online waterfowl season chat at noon Aug. 27.

WILDLIFE

Access Green Bay at fish, ggg areas

Nearly 11,000 acres of vital fisheries and wildlife areas along Green Bay's west shore in Brown, Oconto and Marinette counties will continue to be managed for protection of existing habitats while providing outdoor recreational opportunities.

The state Natural Resources Board approved a master plan this week for an area from Peshtigo south to Green Bay. In addition to public wildlife viewing, the area has opportunities for fishing, hunting, trapping and boating.

The plan includes improvements to an existing shooting range, opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing, and accessible shore fishing sites and hunting blinds as well as a new snowmobile connector trail.

Learn more at dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/masterplanning/greenbay.

■ Shorebird migration is nearing its peak, and some other species are starting to stage for fall flights that can take them hundreds or even thousands of miles from Wisconsin. Find out what others are seeing and report your own sightings at ebird.org/wi.

FIELD GUIDE

Zone-specific doe tags to go on sale

Bonus antlerless deer tags for counties that have them go on sale next week; Monday for the Northern and Central Forest Zones, Tuesday for the Central Farmland Zone and Wednesday for the Southern Farmland Zone.

Starting 10 a.m. Thursday, any leftover permits statewide will go on sale until sold out.

All tags are limited to one per customer per day, and with the exception of the youngest hunters, cost $12 for residents and $20 for non-residents. The price per tag for mentored hunters age 10 or 11 is $5.

Hunters will be asked to specify county, zone (farmland or forest) and land type (public or private) when trying to purchase a tag.

See the numbers by county at dnr.wi.gov/Permits/bonusavailability.html.

■ The DNR has released an all-inclusive app for Wisconsin State Parks and Forests. Learn more about it — or the Wisconsin Fish & Wildlife Guide app — at dnr.wi.gov/mobileapps.